2013 APRIL / Vol. 5 / No. 4 /
GA
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strike groups and coalition forces."
To date, Northrop Grumman
has delivered nine E-2Ds to the
U.S. Navy on or ahead of schedule,
with another 11 aircraft in various
stages of manufacturing and
pre-delivery flight testing. Initial
operational capability with the U.S.
Navy remains on track for 2015.
Northrop Grumman is
a leading global security
company providing innovative
systems, products and solutions
in unmanned systems,
cybersecurity, C4ISR, and
logistics and modernization to
government and commercial
customers worldwide. Please
visit www.northropgrumman.
com for more information. ·
Agreement finalised
between Denel and SAAF
on retention of some
high level critical skills
Denel SOC Ltd and the South
African Air Force (SAAF)
have agreed on the future of a
skills supply agreement which
will result in the retention
of 139 skilled positions.
The CEO of Denel Aviation, Mr
Mike Kgobe, says he is delighted
that an agreement has been finalised
with the SAAF which will see
the company continue to deliver
vital maintenance services to the
SAAF that form a cornerstone
for continued airworthiness
and the upkeep of air assets.
"This is a win-win situation for
both Denel and the SAAF which
is indicative of the mature and
strategic relationship that exists
between the two organisations
which was reinforced through
the cooperation agreement
concluded between the two
organisations in 2012" he says.
A Service Level Agreement
is being finalised between the
parties that will be compliant
to both National Treasury
and Legislative prescripts.
Mr Kgobe says the 139
positions retained were identified
in terms of the skills requirements
by the SAAF which would be
complemented by SAAF's own
capability. "This is indeed a
breakthrough. With this solution
we are able to ensure that the
jobs of some of our employees
across a number of categories
and locations are retained with
the requisite order cover.
The remainder of the
workforce will unfortunately be
retrenched at the end of March
2013 in terms of the provisions
of the Labour Relations Act.
Denel has met with affected
employees across the SAAF bases,
squadrons and units to explain
the situation and the processes to
be followed. Denel has further
committed to assist with seeking
job opportunities for the affected
employees both within the Denel
Group and the broader market.
Mr Kgobe says the agreement
will strengthen the excellent
working relationship between Denel
and the SAAF and will result in
the retention of high-level critical
skills, a focused service delivery
and cost savings to the SAAF.
He expressed his appreciation
to all parties who contributed
to the positive outcome of the
consultations, including the SAAF,
Denel and Organised Labour. ·
On 14 March Russian Helicopters,
part of state defence holding
Oboronprom and a leading global
designer and manufacturer of
helicopters, has delivered two Mi-
171 transport helicopters with type
certification to Russian aviation
company SKOL Airline, LLC.
The Mi-171 is built at the
Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, a Russian
Helicopters company. The two
helicopters delivered to SKOL are
fitted with special lifting and transport
equipment including an on-board
boom and winch able to lift loads of
150kg (approx. 330 Ib) and an external
hoist with capacity of up to 4,000kg
(approx. 4400 lb). Shock-absorbing
Fischer seats have been installed to
improve comfort and safety for pilots
SKOL Airline operates various
Mi-8/17 series helicopters including
the medium Mi-171, Mi-8AMT
and Mi-8MTV, as well as the heavy
Mi-26T, which are frequently
deployed on UN peace-keeping
and humanitarian missions around
the world. This helicopters are used
for transporting cargo, medicines,
materials and passengers and to
provide humanitarian aid. Helicopters
previously supplied to SKOL include
three Mi-171, two of which were
delivered in 2009 and one in 2010
The new helicopters are forecast to
help SKOL strengthen its position and
increase its share of the international
air-freight market, where the
helicopters' capabilities are highly rated,
as well as their reliability and the value
for money that they offer. SKOL plans
to increase its fleet of Mi-171s, and
is currently considering new supply
contracts with Russian Helicopters.
Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant is a
Russian Helicopters production
facility. The plant has extensive and
advanced manufacturing and technical
capabilities that enable it to quickly
launch production of new aircraft
types and also to build prototypes and
mass-produce helicopters. The plant
has built more than 8,000 machines in
its 70-year history. Today it specializes
in the production of the Mi-171 (Mi-
8AMT) and Mi-171Sh helicopters.
Russian Helicopters, JSC is a
subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom,
which in turn is a part of the Rostec
State Corporation. It is one of the
global leaders in helicopter production
and the only helicopter design and
production powerhouse in Russia.
Russian Helicopters is headquartered
in Moscow. The company comprises
five helicopter production facilities,
two design bureaus, a spare parts
production and repair facility, as well as
an aftersale service branch responsible
for maintenance and repair in Russia
and all over the world. Its helicopters
are popular among Russian ministries
and state authorities (Ministry of
Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs,
Emergency Control Ministry), operators
(Gazpromavia, UTair), major Russian
corporations. Over 8000 helicopters of
Soviet/Russian make are operated in
110 countries worldwide. Traditionally
the demand is highest in the Middle
East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin
America, Russia, and CIS countries.
Russian Helicopters was established
in 2007. In 2011 its IFRS revenues
increased 27.8% to RUB 103.9 billion.
Deliveries reached 262 helicopters.
UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-
profile industrial and investment group
established in 2002. It is a part of the
Rostec State Corporation. Its main
tasks include: helicopter engineering
(Russian Helicopters, JSC) and engine-
building (United Engine Industry
Corporation managing company).
The Russian Technologies State
Corporation (Rostec was established
in 2007 to support Russian industry
in developing, producing and
exporting high-tech industrial
products for civil and military
use. The Corporation includes 663
companies, currently organised
into 12 defence holdings and five
holdings for civil industries. The
Corporation has a presence in 60
of Russia's regions, and exports its
products to 70 countries. Russian
Technologies State Corporation is
headed by Sergei Chemezov. In 2011
the Corporation had net income of
RUB 1.55 billion, and paid RUB 100
billion into budgets of all levels. ·
Russian Helicopters delivers new
Mi-171 to Russian operator SKOL Airline